By Everson Luhanga
- The expansion adds 2,584m² of space including 1,805m² for retail in Sun Park and should be complete by November 2026.
- New stores will include Mr Price, Mr Price Home, FARO, Cape Union Mart and Polo when the project is completed.
Many families in Gqeberha are struggling with rising costs of food, transport and rent. For them, new jobs and busy shops can make a big difference.
A R60-million expansion at Boardwalk Mall is raising hopes of more work opportunities.
Flanagan and Gerard Property Group and its partners started building on 19 January 2026. The project will add 2,584m² of space. Of that, 1,805m² will be retail space in Sun Park. The work should be done by November 2026.
The mall has been fully let for two and a half years. About 30 of its 98 stores are independent businesses. The centre has supported around 1,250 jobs so far.
In December 2025, shoppers spent R114 million at the mall. That was up from R109-million in December 2024. The centre gets about 850,000 shoppers a month and more than 1.2 million in December.
Managing director Paul Gerard said the expansion responds to demand from retailers who could not get space before. Existing tenants also want to grow.
New stores will include Mr Price, Mr Price Home, FARO, Cape Union Mart and Polo. A 237m² Woolworths expansion opened on 21 November 2025. The store added more than 900 new food products. Footfall went up by 67%.
Sun International’s Nomzamo Radebe said the extension strengthens the area as an economic and social hub. She said it will unlock opportunities for job creation.
A new hotel called The Capital Boardwalk Hotel will open in April 2026. It will have 145 rooms and a conference centre for 400 guests. Developers say more visitors will bring more spending into local businesses.
Pictured above: Aerial view of the Boardwalk Mall in Gqeberha.
Image source: Supplied
